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Friday, February 10, 2012
Police: Chase ends in rollover near Georgetown
A high speed car chase in Georgetown ended in a rollover Friday night, officials said.
Georgetown police Lt. Gary T. Terbush said the police chase began with a two car accident near Leander Road and Inner Loop Drive. One driver drove off and it turned into a police pursuit, Terbush said.
“The suspect took them on a chase throughout the south part of Georgetown,” Terbush said.
Georgetown and Department of Public Safety officers were involved in the chase, he said.
The chase ended when the suspect’s vehicle rolled over on the Interstate 35 frontage road near the 259 mile marker (close to Inner Loop Drive), Terbush said. The suspect was taken to Seton Medical Center Williamson with unknown injuries, he said.
Police are still investigating the hit-and-run that lead to the chase, Terbush said. The suspect suffered the only known injuries, he said.
San Marcos firefighters extinguish blaze at billiards hall
SAN MARCOS — Firefighters extinguished an early morning fire at Gold Crown Billiards Friday, city officials said.
After responding to the scene around 2:30 a.m., firefighters found a “significant fire” near and where the billiards hall cools its kegs, according to the city.
The cause of the fire and extent of the damage is still unknown. City spokeswoman Melissa Millecam said the investigation is ongoing.
Bail bond agent charged with theft after defendant claims $12,000 stolen, police say
The owner of a Bastrop bail bond business has been charged with felony theft after a client told police that $12,000 in cash was stolen from her, according to an arrest affidavit released today.
Patricia Stark, the 54-year-old owner of Ace Bail Bonds, is facing the charge after she refused to return the money and other items to a defendant in a Caldwell County criminal case, the affidavit issued by Austin police said.
The defendant was facing criminal charges of evading police and possession of dangerous drugs in Caldwell County and used Ace Bail Bonds to post bail in the 2010 case, the affidavit said.
The client, Afaf Bouardi, left the country soon after the October 2010 incident and missed a subsequent court date, the affidavit said. Her bond was then revoked by the court, the affidavit said.
Stark then hired a bail enforcement agent, or bounty hunter, to track Bouardi down, the affidavit said. In October, the agent received word that Bouardi was in Austin, located her and took her to Caldwell County jail, the affidavit said. The agent also took Bouardi’s purse, which contained $11,500 in euros, nearly $500 in cash and a cell phone to Stark, the affidavit said. The bounty hunter kept the nearly $500, the document said.
By December, Bouardi’s cases had been adjudicated and she and her attorney requested Stark return the money and other items several times, but to no avail, the affidavit said.
On Jan. 27, Stark met with Austin police and returned the purse, but not the money and cell phone, the affidavit said. A second meeting was set for Feb. 2, but Stark did not show up, the affidavit said.
“I called Stark on her cell phone and when I tried to ask her if she was coming she told me there was background noise (which I heard) and could not hear me,” an Austin police investigator said in the document.
Additional calls to Stark’s cell and office phones went to voicemail, the affidavit said.
Stark is facing $12,000 bail, and was not shown booked Friday, jail records show.
Authorities warn public about portable meth labs in backpacks found along Burnet County roads
FROM THE BURNET COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE:
On February 08, 2012, the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit was contacted in reference to a suspicious bag left on the side of a rural road in south Burnet County containing suspicious containers of chemicals.
Investigators arrived to find chemicals and components of what Investigators were led to believe was a portable Methamphetamine Lab. This is the latest in several bags found on the roadside that contained chemicals and components to manufacture Methamphetamine.
The Special Operations Unit would like to thank the concerned citizens that contacted Law Enforcement on the February 08, 2012 in reference to the suspicious bag. Citizens are urged to “USE CAUTION’” when observing suspicious bags and / or backpacks on the roadside.
Portable Methamphetamine labs contain VOLATILE and CORROSIVE materials that can injure the lungs and skin if handled without proper protective equipment. These portable labs are known to contain used syringes and other paraphernalia that can cause injury if not handled properly. If a suspicious bag or backpack or any other package is found and suspected of containing chemicals please contact your area Law Enforcement Agency or the Burnet County Special Operations Unit at 830-693-6166.
Investigators urge citizens to report any suspicious activity, odors, chemicals, containers etc….to Law Enforcement at 512-756-8080. The involvement of the citizens of Burnet County can make a difference and assist Law Enforcement in the War on Methamphetamine manufacturing, sales and use in Burnet County.
Texas law enforcement agencies prepare for Great Warrant Roundup
Got traffic tickets, parking violations, court fees or arrest warrants you haven’t paid? Now’s the time to take care of them, because police across the state are preparing to round up violators.
Starting Feb. 25, law enforcement agencies in more than 265 jurisdictions will begin arresting people and collecting payments on outstanding warrants for an initiative they call the Great Warrant Roundup.
Police officials in Central Texas said this morning that they want people to contact the courts where they have warrants and arrange to make payments on their fines before they risk arrest.
“We’d like to see everyone take the opportunity to get in touch with the courts and get these taken care of,” said Austin Assistant Police Chief Sean Mannix.
Travis County Precinct 4 Constable Maria Canchola said people will not face arrest if they make payment arrangements. After Feb. 25, officers may come to people’s homes or offices to collect on the warrants, she said.
“That is what we’re trying to avoid,” Canchola said. “We don’t want to arrest you, but we must execute these warrants.”
Rebecca Stark, the Austin Municipal Court clerk, said that court sent out more than 80,000 notices to people informing them of their outstanding issues. The warrant round-up, now in its sixth year, is set around tax time so people can use their refunds to take care of their court fees, officials said.
